Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday asserted that Odisha is firmly on track to emerge as India’s largest investment hub, citing the overwhelming response received during the two-day Odisha Investors’ Meet and Roadshow held in Hyderabad.
Addressing the media at the Lok Seva Bhawan Convention Centre after his return, the Chief Minister said the discussions with investors had reinforced their strong faith in Odisha’s industrial potential and governance framework.
Describing the experience as “extremely satisfying,” the Chief Minister said the Hyderabad roadshow clearly demonstrated growing investor confidence in Odisha. He noted that the state’s industrial journey—from untapped potential to concrete implementation—has gained remarkable momentum, attributing this transformation to the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Chief Minister said the Prime Minister’s “Midas touch” has been instrumental in Odisha’s successful industrialisation drive.
The Hyderabad visit was part of a major investment outreach initiative led by the Chief Minister. Over the course of two days, the Odisha government conducted 73 high-level meetings and two sector-specific roundtable discussions. One roundtable focused on the pharmaceutical sector and involved eight leading pharma companies, while the second brought together representatives from 27 defence-sector companies.
The Chief Minister said that although pharma and defence have so far been relatively underdeveloped sectors in Odisha, these focused engagements have generated strong investor interest.
He further stated that he personally held one-to-one discussions with 38 industrialists, exploring investment opportunities across a wide range of sectors, including pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, defence manufacturing, renewable energy equipment, electronics and IT, data centres, textiles and technical textiles, and advanced manufacturing.
A mega investors’ roadshow held during the visit saw participation from more than 500 industrialists, business associations, and institutional partners, giving them a comprehensive understanding of Odisha’s industrial ecosystem, infrastructure readiness, and policy-driven development model.
During the roadshow, the Chief Minister presented his vision for a prosperous Odisha by 2036, along with a roadmap for growth in manufacturing and services. He announced that Enterprise Odisha will be held in Rourkela on January 28 and 29, and informed that plans are also underway to organise an industrial conclave in Kolkata.
Emphasising the state government’s focus on ease of doing business, he said amendments are being made to around 23 laws, including the removal or modification of outdated provisions that no longer serve present-day requirements. Over the next three months, the government’s priority will be to convert investment proposals into grounded projects, which, he said, would further strengthen investor confidence.
As part of the Hyderabad visit, the Chief Minister and senior officials toured Bharat Dynamics Limited, a major defence manufacturing company, with the objective of deepening Odisha’s engagement with India’s defence and aerospace ecosystem. He said Odisha is preparing to develop a comprehensive defence manufacturing ecosystem with special emphasis on MSMEs, startups, skilled manpower, and precision manufacturing, adding that preparations are underway for missile component manufacturing in the state.
The visit resulted in the signing of 13 Memoranda of Understanding, attracting investment commitments worth ₹27,650 crore and generating employment potential for 15,905 people. In addition, nine Investment Intent Filings were received, indicating potential investments exceeding ₹39,131 crore and job opportunities for 40,435 people. Taken together, the Hyderabad roadshow secured investment commitments worth ₹66,781 crore with employment potential for 56,340 people, making it one of the most successful investment promotion initiatives of the Odisha government.
The Chief Minister said that since Utkarsh Odisha 2025, projects worth ₹4.38 lakh crore have been approved in the state, creating employment potential for over 2.55 lakh people. Over the past 18 months alone, industrial projects worth ₹2.10 lakh crore have been inaugurated or have had foundation stones laid, ensuring employment for more than 1.63 lakh people. He added that several sectoral conclaves, including those focused on pharmaceuticals and textiles, have been organised in Odisha, while two MoUs were signed at the Semicon Conclave in Delhi, reflecting the government’s sustained focus on industrial growth.
Industry leaders who participated in the meetings conveyed that their confidence in Odisha has significantly increased due to the state’s clear policies, improved infrastructure, responsible governance, and the Chief Minister’s direct involvement in monitoring projects. The Chief Minister said investors now view Odisha as a future growth engine of India, with strong interest emerging in pharmaceuticals, defence, electronics, renewable energy, IT, textiles, and advanced manufacturing. This, he noted, signals Odisha’s transition towards a diversified, value-added, and employment-intensive industrial economy.
As Utkarsh Odisha 2025 approaches the completion of one year, the success of the Hyderabad roadshow marks a significant chapter in the state’s industrial journey.
The Chief Minister said the growing momentum in investment attraction, project execution, and job creation is clear evidence that the government’s industrial development intentions are being translated into reality. Summing up the essence of the visit, he said Odisha’s mantra for industrial growth rests on trust, continuous effort, and long-term partnerships.
The press interaction was attended by Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain, Handlooms and Textiles Minister Pradeep Bal Samanta, School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond, MSME Minister Gokula Nanda Mallik, ruling party chief whip Saroj Pradhan, legislators, Additional Chief Secretary of the Industries Department Hemant Sharma, and senior officials.
